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Zac Efron shocked fans with his latest Netflix show Down To Earth. The show follows Efron and Darin Olien as the duo travels throughout France, Puerto Rico, London, Iceland, Costa Rica, Peru and Sardinia and explores themes of travel, life, and sustainable living.
Fans were quick to watch the show and viewers were even quicker to point out that the hunky star had a new look in this new series. Some fans even claimed that the 32-year-old has a “dad bod” now. Efron also sports longer hair and has a scruffier beard in the show, making him look older than he has in other roles.
Take a look for yourself!
Zac Efron's 'dad bod' transformation on Netflix show shocks fans https://t.co/ryXTyqCMOH pic.twitter.com/X1F7Ew9Kgh
— New York Post (@nypost) July 18, 2020
What do you think? Although Efron’s physique has certainly changed since his Baywatch days, “dad bod” seems like a stretch. Throughout the 8-episode series, it’s obvious that the actor is still fit and is missing the beer belly people usually associate with “dad bods.”
Sure, he might look slightly less toned, but are the social media reactions really warranted?
One Twitter user criticized the commentary on Efron's new look, writing, "This is so gross. Stop shaming people’s bodies. He is healthier now, that’s what the show is about. Pumping iron and loads of protein is actually really bad for kidneys and the heart but it plays out this societal stereotype that if you are super muscley you are healthy."
Another Twitter user had nothing but good things to say about the actor's transformation. She wrote, "I would like to thank zac efron for changing his look to keep up with my taste. When i was 12 he was my type and at 26 he is my type. We love consistency."
Apparently, she was not alone in feeling this way. Her tweet now has over 70K retweets and almost 400K likes.
In the docuseries, Efron touches on the impact of strict dieting--and his past with it. While visiting Aritzo in Sardinia, Italy, the actor enjoys a food spread that is full of carbs and he's happy to take his fill. "I’m so happy that I’m eating carbs again," he explains, "I went, like, years without eating carbs."
He continued, "When I shot Baywatch, I didn’t have a carb for, like, six months. I almost lost my mind. You need this. I still can’t get over how this diet of carbs and low protein is the exact opposite of everything any trainer has ever taught me."
Although the actor has not directly responded to the commentary surrounding his new look, he did show some love for his fans who were watching the show. tweeting, "Love you guys."
